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Boy on Ice: The Life and Death of Derek Boogaard

Page 33

by John Branch

on Regina Pat Canadians, 64–65

  on Regina Pats, 53–55, 59–61, 66–69, 80, 138, 185, 224

  Regina Pats’ scouting and claiming of, 46–48, 175

  and reputation as toughest enforcer in league, 1, 3, 7–8, 88, 110, 111, 158, 159, 169, 172, 179, 181, 194, 198, 210, 222, 223, 225, 229, 232, 248, 259, 299

  rising league stature of, 151–152, 158, 168, 172

  scouting of, 6–7, 46–48, 175

  self-deprecating humor of, 33, 130, 139

  selflessness in, 9, 313

  sensitivity to light displayed by, 209, 261, 267, 269, 273, 281, 282, 284

  shoulder issues of, 8, 128, 143, 186, 200, 201, 206, 211, 226, 229, 255, 260, 261, 279, 314, 316

  shyness of, 10, 48, 75, 78, 79, 84, 94, 98, 177, 202

  skating-style of, 4, 37, 40, 72, 103

  slurred speech of, 210, 211, 268

  soothing calmness of, 119, 122, 184, 196–197

  surgeries on, 82, 206, 207, 209, 225, 229, 292, 314

  suspensions of, 89–90, 93, 95, 96, 101, 113

  team doctors as freely prescribing and supplying drugs to, 169, 173, 182, 184, 189–190, 206–207, 209–210, 211, 220, 243, 245, 252, 255, 256, 257, 262, 263, 265, 267, 271, 274, 282, 283, 284, 285, 291, 315

  team leadership of, 103, 197

  teasing by teammates of, 60, 74, 75, 105

  Toradol administered to, 200, 201, 226, 255

  “tough guy”/fearless public persona of, 139, 179, 186, 194, 202, 210, 224, 312–313

  trades of, 69, 71, 76, 96, 100, 106, 187

  in 2001 Cougars vs. Winter Hawks playoff series, 88–90

  in 2005–6 rookie season with the Wild, 137–140, 147–148, 149, 150–152, 160, 161, 198, 222, 253

  in 2006–7 season, 2, 156–158, 167–175

  in 2007–8 season, 9–10, 181–182, 183, 184, 198

  in 2007 Wild vs. Ducks playoff series, 1–2, 3–6, 7, 8–9, 10, 172–175, 187

  in 2008–9 season, 187–190, 201

  in 2009–10 season, 217–218, 220, 221–222, 223, 226–228, 229

  in 2010–11 season with Rangers, 244, 257–260, 275, 308

  unkempt appearance of, 210–211, 266, 267

  violent outbursts of, 45–46, 95, 96, 100, 163

  Wild’s pregame tribute to, 324

  work ethic of, 9, 102, 118, 119, 132, 133, 174, 198, 200, 269

  workouts and training of, 40–41, 66, 83, 117, 118, 129, 176–179, 193, 194, 198, 204, 208, 225, 238, 275, 283, 288, 289, 291, 293, 297, 312

  wrist injuries of, 126, 128

  youth “fighting camp” and, 175–176

  Boogaard family, 25, 26, 28, 30, 74, 83, 113, 224, 291, 299, 308, 309, 326

  disapproval for Erin held by, 203–204, 205, 209, 239–240, 256, 257, 309–310

  “outsider” status of, 28–29, 292

  Boogaard, Joanne Vrouwe, 6, 13, 14–16, 18–19, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 33, 38, 39, 46, 47, 59, 65–66, 74, 76, 77, 90, 91, 92, 97, 104, 119, 134, 161, 166, 178, 204, 205, 223, 230, 266, 270, 275, 300–301, 309, 318, 320, 324, 325, 326

  birth of, 15

  Derek’s death and, 304

  at Derek’s funeral, 306, 308, 312, 313–314

  Derek’s prescription drug abuse and, 210, 211, 212, 292

  Len’s courtship of, 17–18

  long-lost son of, 96–97, 105

  marital issues and divorce of, 65, 70, 75, 83, 84, 90–91, 97, 292

  as supportive of Derek’s hockey career, 18–19, 21–22, 33, 34, 60, 101–102

  wedding of, 18, 25, 306

  Boogaard, Jody Vail, 32–33, 65, 90–91, 159, 223, 259–260, 266, 304, 309

  Boogaard, Krysten, 26, 60, 65, 70, 105, 119, 165, 296, 298–299, 303, 324

  college basketball career of, 204, 260, 296

  at Derek’s funeral, 306, 309, 312, 313

  Boogaard, Len, 14, 16–19, 28, 30, 31, 33–36, 35, 38, 39, 40, 42–43, 44, 46, 47, 48, 53, 54, 59, 65–66, 76, 77, 81–82, 85, 94, 96, 105, 109, 116, 119, 121, 134, 159–160, 204, 205, 249, 251, 259–260, 266–267, 269–270, 271, 272, 273, 275, 277, 302, 317, 320, 324, 325, 326, 327

  childhood of, 16–17

  in courtship of Joanne, 17–18

  Derek’s death and, 304

  at Derek’s funeral, 306, 308, 309, 312, 313–314

  Derek’s medical and pharmacy records obtained by, 182, 189, 206, 214, 221

  Derek’s prescription drug abuse and, 210, 212, 242–243, 244, 247, 267–269, 291, 292

  marital issues and divorce of, 65, 70, 75, 83, 84, 90–91, 97, 292

  physical appearance of, 17, 33, 34

  RCMP career of, 14, 17, 18, 23–24, 25–26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 34–35, 203, 223, 307

  as supportive of Derek’s hockey career, 18–19, 21–22, 33, 35–36, 41, 60, 61, 139, 159

  wedding of, 18, 25, 306

  Boogaard, Nieltje “Nancy,” 16

  Boogaard, Pieter “Peter,” 16

  Boogaard, Ryan, 19, 32, 35, 39, 60, 65, 70, 105, 119, 163, 165, 204, 307, 324

  Derek’s death and, 303–304, 315

  at Derek’s funeral, 309, 312

  Derek’s prescription drug abuse and, 210, 212–214

  as Derek’s unofficial advance scout, 60, 68, 83, 164, 231

  “Boogaard Fighting Camp,” 175–176

  Booguardians Memorial Fund, 308

  Bootleggers (bar), 301

  Boston, Mass., 305, 318

  Boston Bruins, 56, 57–58, 146, 152, 251

  Boston University, 324

  Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy at, 319–320, 326

  School of Medicine at, 319

  Bouchard, Pierre-Marc, 4, 173

  boxing, 55, 56, 62, 122, 124, 141, 192, 194, 204, 320

  CTE in, 142, 319

  Derek’s workouts and training in, 41, 83, 117, 129, 176–179, 193, 204, 293, 297

  Boyle, Brian, 253

  brain injuries, 8, 56–57, 140–146, 200, 276–277, 318–320, 321

  players and leagues as initially dismissive of threat of, 140–141, 143, 276, 323

  see also chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE); concussions

  Brandt, Paul, 312

  Brandt Centre, 212

  see also Agridome

  Brashear, Donald, 62, 151, 174

  Breathe Right nasal strips, 264

  Breezy Point, Minn., 93, 99

  Brennan, Kip, 129–130, 137–138, 148

  Bronwell, Heather, 121, 122

  Bronwell, Rick, 121–122

  Brookbank, Sheldon, 126, 148

  Brookbank, Wade, 148

  Brooks, Larry, 248–249

  Brooks and Dunn, 194

  Brookstone, 293

  Buffalo Sabres, 133, 247

  bulldogs, 120–121, 159

  Burns, Brent, 5, 150, 174, 183, 192, 268, 308, 312

  Burns, Sheldon, 182, 189, 245, 255

  Cajundome, 108, 112–113

  Calgary, Alberta, 21, 27, 47, 54, 64, 65, 80, 96, 97, 100

  Calgary Flames, 116–117, 169–170, 201, 205, 220, 222, 230

  Calgary Hitmen, 90, 95, 97, 104–105, 129, 320

  California, 20, 217, 299, 310

  Medical Board of, 189

  Cambria County War Memorial Arena, 111

  Campbell, Clarence, 57

  Canada, 17, 21, 22, 38, 59, 64, 112, 183, 185, 254, 278

  Canadian National Railway, 23

  Cantu, Robert, 319, 326

  Canyon rehabilitation center, 214, 216–217, 218

  Carkner, Matt, 257–259, 259, 261, 275, 279

  Carlyle, Randy, 5, 137

  Carolina Hurricanes, 111

  Carrier, Roch, 22

  Central Hockey League, 241, 318

  Central Park, N.Y., 268, 285

  Charles, Paul, 91

  Chicago Blackhawks, 9–10, 133, 134, 152, 211, 216

  Chicago Wolves, 127, 129, 131

  Christensen, Erik, 253

  chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), 142–143, 276–277, 319–320, 323, 325–3
27

  symptoms of, 142, 277, 319, 320, 325, 326

  Churchman, Travis, 54–55, 63, 66, 67

  Chynoweth, Dean, 146

  Clark, Jennie, 194, 245, 300, 301, 302, 311

  Clark, Jeremy, 192–195, 208, 240, 243, 245, 265, 283–284, 300, 301, 302, 311, 315

  Clark, Wendel, 21, 37–38, 88

  Clarke, Bobby, 145

  Cleveland Barons, 258

  Clutterbuck, Cal, 201–202

  cocaine, 155, 204, 272, 277

  codeine, 169, 182, 285

  Coleman, Alberta, 320

  college hockey, 58, 77, 224

  Colorado, 164, 165, 166, 308

  Colorado Avalanche, 145, 217–218, 311

  Columbus Blue Jackets, 152, 182, 216, 252

  concussions, 3, 5, 109, 128, 132, 141–142, 143–146, 147, 174, 203, 214, 215, 217, 229, 245, 255, 260–261, 264, 268–269, 272, 273, 275, 279, 284, 288, 292, 294, 296, 319

  athletes and leagues as initially dismissing potential harm of, 140–141, 143, 146

  bruising of brain in, 141

  careers shortened by, 83, 132, 141, 144, 145, 146, 318–319

  in football players, 200–201

  helmet campaigns for prevention of, 287–288

  NHL’s lack of protocol for handling of, 144, 146

  secrecy surrounding players afflicted with, 141, 143–144, 170, 201, 261

  side effects of, 141, 142, 261, 264, 265–266

  Toradol use and, 200–201

  see also post-concussion syndrome

  Condy, Brett, 45, 104

  Connelly, Richard, 122

  Controlled Substances Act, 206

  Coutu, Billy, 56

  Crawford, Marc, 147

  Cronin, Dan, 219, 221, 252, 271, 273, 294, 299, 300

  cyclobenzaprine, 252

  Dallas Stars, 111, 149, 180

  Daly, Bill, 220, 323

  D’Amore, Janella, 97–99, 103, 105, 114, 118, 119–121, 122, 126, 128, 159, 163–166, 192, 203–204, 302, 308–309, 310

  Derek’s apartments and condos with, 114–115, 120, 121, 160, 164

  Derek’s breakup with, 160, 164–166, 309

  Derek’s cheating and, 160–161, 163, 164

  Derek’s common-law marriage to, 121, 309

  Derek’s death and, 308–309

  Dangerfield, Rodney, 55

  Davison, Rob, 139

  Deadmarsh, Adam, 145–146

  Defending the Blue Line, 197, 237, 308

  dementia, 142, 319, 327

  “dementia puglistica,” see chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)

  Dempsey, Ed, 70, 73, 79, 88, 89

  Denver, Colo., 166

  depression, 142, 220, 277, 284, 292, 321, 322

  Desjardins, Willie, 103, 104

  Detroit Red Wings, 57, 134

  Dilaudid, 283

  Doerksen, Rick, 89–90

  Domi, Tie, 32, 61, 151, 247

  DropYourGloves.com, 63

  Drug Enforcement Agency, 316

  drug tests, 220–221, 256, 262, 265, 267, 269, 271–272, 275–276, 283, 286, 291, 293, 298, 314

  Drury, Chris, 246–247

  Duane Reade, 281

  “The Dude” (drug supplier), 282

  Dudley Do-Right (char.), 24

  Dutch Christian Reformed Church, 16

  Earls (restaurant chain), 102, 103

  East Coast Hockey League (ECHL), 107, 113, 115, 118, 123, 124, 131, 171, 241, 254

  founding and growth of, 111–112

  promotions and gimmicks in, 112, 115

  WHL vs., 111, 112

  Edlund, Kyle, 189

  Edmonton, Alberta, 21, 71, 232, 238

  Edmonton Ice (WHL team), 39

  Edmonton Oilers, 61, 116–117, 150–151, 205, 217, 232, 254–255, 286, 287, 318

  contract offered by, 230–231

  Edmonton Sun, 151

  Endocet, 182

  enforcers, hockey, 1, 2, 6–8, 32, 55–57, 72, 81, 95, 100, 103, 107, 108, 129, 132, 133, 134, 146, 150, 168, 173, 179, 188, 203, 216, 222, 224, 225, 231, 258, 261, 276, 284, 312–313

  alcohol and drug abuse in, 123, 155, 183, 185–186, 199, 213, 272, 277, 323

  caricatured archetype of, 55–56, 117, 139, 224

  character traits of, 7, 56, 143, 155

  concealment of pain by, 8, 9, 143, 184, 186

  concussions and head injuries in, 56–57, 83, 132, 141, 143–144, 146, 170, 276, 277, 326

  contracts and salaries of, 154, 170, 174, 223, 229, 248, 249, 288, 321

  CTE in, 276–277, 319–320, 326

  debate over continued existence of, 246–247, 248

  depression in, 277, 284, 321, 322

  Derek as molded into role of, 2, 40, 41, 42, 48, 117–118

  Derek’s rising stature as, 151–152, 158, 159, 168, 172

  Derek’s tough/fearsome reputation as, 1, 3, 7–8, 88, 110, 111, 158, 159, 168, 169, 172, 179, 181, 194, 198, 210, 222, 223, 225, 229, 232, 248, 259, 299

  as “deterrent” to violence from opposition, 42, 52, 87, 102, 248–249

  difficulty in ascending to NHL of, 123, 124, 125

  diminishing role of, 147, 229–230, 248–249

  emotional tolls on, 9, 152–155, 157–158, 183, 193–194, 199–200, 208, 318, 322, 323

  fan popularity of, 56, 64, 117, 152

  golden age of, 61–64

  inferiority complexes of, 153–154

  in minor-league hockey, 123–125, 129–130, 171

  one-trick, 61, 117

  pay-per-view tournament of, 124–125, 247

  physical tolls on, 8, 9, 140–141, 152, 153, 155, 178, 208, 318

  precarious job security of, 9, 55, 69, 150, 153, 179

  Ryan’s advanced scouting of, 60, 68, 83, 164

  showboating of, 62, 68, 69, 117, 149, 226, 247, 259

  specific role and duties of, 6–7, 52, 58, 102, 153, 154, 171, 174, 246–247, 248

  suicides of, 320–322

  “tough guy”/fearless facade of, 9, 143, 153, 155, 184, 193, 194, 199

  unspoken code of, 90, 175, 181, 186, 193, 255

  see also fights, fighting; specific hockey enforcers

  Esposito, Joseph, 252, 255, 256

  Esposito, Phil, 58

  Farrish, Dave, 107–108, 110, 111

  Farthing, Dan, 83

  Federal Amateur Hockey League, 50

  Fedoruk, Luke, 184, 278

  Fedoruk, Theresa, 180, 181, 277–278, 279, 280

  Fedoruk, Todd “The Fridge,” 53, 54, 56, 66, 138, 148, 152, 156, 168, 169, 173, 175, 182, 183, 212–213, 225, 250, 277–280

  alcohol and drug abuse of, 185, 213, 279

  Derek’s unlikely friendship with, 183–186, 277–279

  facial injury of, 8, 156–158, 157, 159, 167, 173, 179, 180, 181, 202, 278, 280

  fighting stats of, 54

  Fehr, Don, 322

  Fiaco, Frank, 176–179

  fights, fighting, 1, 38, 56–59, 60, 62–63, 102, 116–117, 125, 146, 152–153, 154–155, 171–172, 173, 180, 190, 201–202, 217, 250–251, 279, 321

  in bantam-level hockey, 42, 45–46

  career-ending injuries inflicted in, 145, 146, 155

  in college hockey, 58, 224

  concussions and head injury caused by, 5, 50, 56–57, 140–144, 145–146, 170, 174, 275, 276–277, 321, 326

  controversy over role of, 58–59, 72, 124, 132, 147, 250, 276–277, 322

  deaths resulting from, 50, 51

  Derek’s final professional, 257–260, 259, 279

  Derek’s NHL, 7–8, 9–10, 137–138, 139, 140, 147–148, 149, 150–152, 156–158, 157, 159, 167, 169–172, 175, 181–182, 187–188, 188, 190, 201, 217–218, 221–222, 226–228, 227, 250, 251–253, 254–256, 257–260, 259, 279, 321–322, 324

  Derek’s stats in, 7–8, 80, 88, 100, 106, 113, 123, 133, 148, 173, 181, 201, 229

  Derek’s techniques and strategies in, 67, 74, 110, 178–179, 224

  Derek’s unrefined skills in, 67, 74

  diminishing r
ole of, in recent years, 59, 147–148, 323

  in early days of hockey, 49–52

  fan enthusiasm for, 6, 9, 55, 56, 62, 63, 73, 81, 87, 104, 109, 111, 112, 133, 137, 138, 139, 151, 156, 167, 170, 171, 217, 218, 228, 251, 254, 258

  as form of vigilante justice, 50, 51, 62

  hand injuries caused by, 3, 8, 81–82, 108–109, 113, 126–127, 139, 152, 168, 195, 228, 252, 255

  instruction and training in, 41, 83, 117, 118, 129, 175, 176–179, 193

  Internet archives of, 63, 228

  in junior leagues, 42, 53, 54–55, 59, 60, 63, 64, 66–69, 72, 73–74, 76–77, 76, 80–82, 86–87, 88, 95, 97, 100, 101, 103–104, 106, 108, 109, 169–170, 224, 250, 254, 320

  long-term negative effects of, 141, 142–143

  media’s sensationalizing of, 62, 63, 138, 155, 169, 201, 218, 226, 227, 228, 251

  in minor-league hockey, 108–111, 112–113, 122, 123–125, 126–127, 128, 129–130, 137, 148, 208, 258

  as momentum changers, 62, 87, 154, 250, 253

  multiplayer brawls and, 74, 86, 103–104, 109–110, 112, 113, 117, 130

  official rules and penalties for, 42, 51–52, 58–59, 62, 113, 130, 147, 193, 250, 323

  opponent strategies for facing Derek in, 168, 179, 226

  in pregame warmups, 8–9, 59, 256

  in preseason games, 54–55, 66–67, 94–95, 133, 216, 246

  as retribution, 61, 62, 145, 154, 156

  rising rates of, in mid-late 20th century, 57–58, 61, 117

  as “safety valve” for controlling violence, 52, 57, 323

  serious facial injuries inflicted in, 8, 55, 82, 83, 155, 156–158, 157, 159, 167, 179, 180, 181, 202, 228, 260

  showmanship in, 62, 68, 69, 117, 122, 147, 218, 226, 253

  “staged,” 55, 60, 81, 87

  suspensions for, 95, 96, 113

  “Tale of the Tape” graphic in, 169, 228, 251

  traditionalists vs. progressives view of, 59

  in 2007 Ducks vs. Wild playoff series, 5–6, 7, 8–9, 174

  unwritten codes and protocol of, 10, 55, 95, 113, 175, 193, 258

  youth camps for, 175–176

  see also enforcers, hockey

  Fleming, Reggie, 277, 320

  Fletcher, Chuck, 211

  Fleury, Theo, 21

  Florida Panthers, 2, 83, 170, 187–188, 221, 279, 322

  Folden, Brian, 40

  Folden, Evan, 31–32, 40

  football, 51, 52, 62, 141, 231

  concussions in, 200–201

  CTE in, 142–143, 276, 319, 323

  see also National Football League (NFL)

  Freadrich, Kyle, 53, 54, 60, 63, 66

  Fritz, Mitch, 68–69, 80–81

  Gaborik, Marian, 150, 154, 192, 195, 223, 232, 238, 246, 248, 268, 284, 308

  Gillies, Clark, 21

  Gillies, Trevor, 148, 149, 255–256

 

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